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Grooming Your Poodle's Nails
At least once a month for adult Poodles and
once a week for pups, you must tackle the grooming chore of nail trimming.
Failing to trim your dog's nails can result in sore, splayed feet. How can
you tell if your Poodle's nails are too long? Well, simply listen. Do you
hear a click-click when she walks across the tile or linoleum floor? If
you do, that means the nails are touching the floor - and they shouldn't
be. Or, take a look at your Poodle s feet while she's standing. Do you see
the nails touching the floor? The idea is to keep your Poodles nails
trimmed back short enough so they don't touch.
There are two basic types of nail clippers: the scissors and the
guillotine. You also can use a nail grinder, but it may take some time to
get your dog used to the noise. If you use scissors or guillotine
clippers, keep them sharp and clean. Dull clippers won't make a clean cut,
and rusty, dirty ones can infect your dog if you cut too quick and your
pet bleeds. The objective when clipping nails is to trim as close to the
quick as possible without accidentally nicking it. Dark nails are more
difficult to cut than light-colored ones, since it is impossible to see
the pink vein.
Remove the dry looking hook at the tip of the nail, cutting off small bits
of nail at a time. As you cut the nail shorter, you'll notice it becomes
softer and you'll see a small grayish-white dot under the nail, which is
the end of the quick. When you reach this point, the nail is short enough;
you can now move on to the next one. Keep in mind that the more often you
trim, the shorter you can get the nail, since the quick actually recedes
with frequent trimming. Cut each nail as quickly and cleanly as possible;
cutting slowly tends to pinch the nail and cause your dog discomfort.
To trim your Poodle's nails, hold one paw firmly in your left hand (if
you're right-handed) and place your thumb on top of the foot. Place your
fingers underneath the pads so you can spread the toes. With the clippers
in your right hand, clip each nail right below the quick with short,
decisive strokes. Don't forget the dewclaws if they were not removed when
your Poodle was a pup.
Finish trimming the first paw, then file each nail with a metal file to
remove sharp, rough edges that could scratch your legs if your Poodle is
naughty and jumps up on you. DO NOT file any nails that have bled. Work
your way to the next paw, trim each nail, then file.
If you accidentally cut too close, don't panic. Apply a styptic powder to
staunch the bleeding and continue clipping the other nails. Don't stop and
make a big fuss over your mistake, as it may make your dog even more
apprehensive the next time you attempt to clip his nails.
A word of advice: start early. Poodles, like all dogs, must learn to
accept new experiences. Begin nail trimming while your dog is a pup and do
it every week. Between trimmings, handle the dogs feet to accustom her to
being touched. The Poodle doesn't usually make a fuss about trimming, but
it's still wise to-teach your dog to accept it from a young age. Before
attempting to clip your Poodle s nails yourself, you may want to observe
your groomer or veterinarian the first time. There are more
information articles on all aspects of basics dog training, dog health
issues, dog grooming and dog nutrition in
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